Surprise Box

The other day I come home from work and my daughter says "Mom, is there something we should know?" I saw the box and laughed. "No, sweetie, unless they know something I don't know"  - She replied, "Don't they know I am 10 and I do not need formula anymore"

We laughed at this company that sent a 40 something woman with a 10 year old a box of baby stuff. I know woman my age have babies, my little one just knows that we waited for her and 10 years since her. We are not adding to our family any time soon.

This blog is not about us having babies, (I have blogged about that several times before) - this box got me to start thinking about how much my daughter has grown and changed. She has grown physically, mentally and spiritually. She now has an opinion of her own, she makes decisions for herself, and she had friends that have influence in her life.

Babies are a fresh start - they come into the world pure and none of the have a chip on their shoulder.

I think back 10 years ago, I was a scared young mom and 10 year before that a scared young(er) pastor's wife - making mistake after mistake. I am so grateful for grace and forgiven for those years.

In my teens, I made a decision that has forever influenced my life - to follow the Bible verse that says -"If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you.… "Proverbs 25:21-22. 

I choose to forgive and show kindness to all in my life, even my "enemies". I do not have a list of wrongs against me in my past, I do not hold my daughter responsible for all the nights I did not sleep when she was a baby, I know she did not know better - why do we expect every one to be where we are in their beliefs, their behavior, their attitude ect... - I think it is time we show others grace like we show our children for their mistakes.

*to be clear I am not perfect at this, I make mistakes by holding a grudge  - yet this box is a reminder to me to forgive.

What Do You Have Faith In?

I have been thinking about roller-coasters this week. No matter how many times you watch a video or friends tell you about what it is like, it is only the first time you strap into the roller-coaster and click your way up the first "hill" then fly down the first drop that you fully understand what the ride is like.

When you ride that roller-coaster you can not turn back, they do not let you off, no matter how much you beg and cry (trust me I have tried). You are on the coaster till the twirling and death defying drops are over. (Yes, you are right, I am not a big fan). We put so much trust in this man made machine to bring us back to the start with all of our body parts in place and most of the time we get in line to do it again.

Yet when it comes to trusting God's plan for our life, we try to change the plans. We have seen many go before us. We have heard of the stories and read them through out history...like Mary.

Let me just take a quick detour to talk about Mary mother of Jesus. She was a regular girl, who had an angel visit that turned her life upside down. She was told she was pregnant and would have God's son, her fiance almost left her, then after that she had to travel across the country on a donkey. (Side note I did not like traveling across the city to Target at the end of my pregnancy let alone of a donkey - I give her lots of credit for this feat) Then she gets to their destination and she has to give birth in a barn (worst birthing story ever). Now things calm down for her family till they are run out of the country because the king is trying to kill her baby. (Boy I am not sure my faith would have continued at this point). Then her son grows up to be loved by many, she sees him preform miracles and give people hope, and just as it can't get any better the kill her first born son. And then as her roller-coaster life continues her beloved son comes to life again. Wow her story is incredible.

What if when the angel came to Mary and she said - I bet you should ask my friend Abby, she is more equipped for this task. Yet she did not  - Mary said "Lord, you lead, I will follow!" (not an exact quote!!!) She would have probably have heard the prophecies  - yet that could not have prepared her for the full plan she agreed to, when she said yes to following God's plan.

Why do we trust a metal roller-coaster with such small hesitation and so often question God at every up and down in life?

Are we willing to stay on the roller-coaster God has planned for us?  Next time you question God's plan know he is in control and he wants the best for your life!

Use Everyday Things to Inspire YOU!

What inspires you? 

I found myself this week looking at my wedding ring, no it is not the original that one broke 7 years ago. I thought I would share my 3 simple thoughts I have had about this ring.

1. Simplicity is Important to Me: I originally had a solitaire diamond.  When it broke I found this ring and loved the simplicity of the design. Before when I was younger, life was about showing others what I could do or what I had. I was trying to keep up with the "Jones" with having a large, perfect color ring like everyone else. We seem to look around and see others homes, waistlines, lifestyles and want better for ourselves. When I look down at my ring a see a symbol of love and commitment. It also reminds me that we have chosen to live in a small mobile home, not out of necessity but out of the desire to live simpler. For us simplicity brings freedom.

2. You Can Do Anything: Several years ago I set a goal to run a 5K. I am not a runner or an athlete, yet I know I wanted to prove I could do it for myself. I trained and love walking...the morning of the 5K my husband and I went off to the event.  My husband and I started together and it was soon apparent he was much faster than I was going to be (without training LOL).  I walked around that lake singing "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me", after a while my husband came back down the trail to find me since I was taking a long time and walked with me to the finish line. It did not matter to me that my time was higher than I thought it should be, I was so excited to have finished a goal I set! Now, you ask what does that have to do with the ring? After that event we went to lunch and saw a jewelry store going out of business. At that jewelry store I found my perfect new wedding band!

3. It Takes Two:

  "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down,one can help the other up." 

We so often take this verse only for married couples, yet we all need other people.  Some days, I look at my ring and remember I need to get out of my office to talk to others, get their advice on something I am working on, and just laugh. Our world is full of things that isolate us from other people, we have to work on have relationships in our lives that will lift us up when fall down.

Challenge for all of us: Look around you and find something that inspires you to step outside your comfort zone, inspires you to challenge yourself to set a new frightening goal, or find something that will just remind you that you are loved!

5 lesson from the pick up line at school

I have a 4th grader who we get to drop off and pick up every day from her elementary school. I am shocked by parent's behavior as we drive through or wait for our kids in the drop off and pick up lines. I thought I would share with you 5 things I have learned about life in 5 1/2 years of time in this line.

1. FOLLOW the Rules; You would think this is something grow adults would understand, yet every day I see parents going around cones, going through the cross guards flags, making up parking spots, honestly the list could go on and on. In life, I am generally a rule follower, I am not always innocent of driving the exact speed, yet no one is perfect. When you do not follow the rules it so often leads to trouble, maybe not right away, it always seems to get you in trouble with someone eventually. Plus it is very irritating for those of us who have to see you do something stupid and put yourself or others in harm. So in life following the rules can be a good thing, most of the time they are rules for a reason!

2. Early Bird Gets the Parking Spot: I like the pick up area because no matter your status in life we are equal in the pick up lane. No one has a reserved spot because the are cute and rich (at least that I know about). We all wait in line in the order we came. All of our kids are released at the same time, they do not choose the smart kids to leave first. Equality can cause you to "up" your game and get there early if you want a good spot.

3. Be Nice: Courtesy is something we so lack in the world. A smile, pulling forward so another car can fit in, and thinking of others can make someones day. I can still tell you the rude mom that yelled at me for making a mistake in parking when my daughter was in 1st grade. It is hard to make up from a bad 1st impression.

4. To Meet People you Must Get Out of Your Car: Friendships can not start unless you go say hi. If you want to make friends you must go out and take a chance.  You must be willing to take a risk and you also need to learn to invest in others.  I have made many great friends while waiting for my daughter -  in swim lessons, in the pick up line at school, at a sporting event - where in life could you be meeting people because you are both "waiting"?
*side note - if you stay in your car you may not make friends but you can stay in your jammie pants.

5. They are Watching You: your kids are watching every move you make especially in high stress situations like the pick up line. They will mimic every thing you do in that line, or the grocery line, or the way you treat the waitress. When you hear them repeat what you said or the action you did will they be in trouble or will you be proud of them?

My 2  challenges to you:
1. Think about what example are you setting for others around you. Is it time for a change?

2. How do you spend your time in the "pick up lane"? Should you be investing friends or maybe, what I do, I spend my down time taking a breathe (and letting my worries and stresses of my work day go), so when my daughter gets in the car I am ready to listen to her day.